The 1965 Amphicar is already quite a unique and rare piece of automotive history. But, an original convertible hood cover? Slightly rare than hen’s teeth.
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we’ve built a reputation for being one of the leaders in the restoration of the Jensen 541 family. The latest
The bonnet on this 1984 Jaguar XJ is currently in with the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body teams to look into a rust issue
Whilst out on the original photo shoot for our 1965 Amphicar, our Marketing manager Freddie snapped this photo. It’s a stunning VW Type 2 Camper.
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have worked their magic yet again. This time recovering the rear seat doors on the 1973 Jaguar E
The charity Lotus Elise has been out doing its promotional tour recently. This time it had been at the Royal Norwich Golf Course to raise
That’s our 1956 Jensen 541 safely in our enclosed transporter and on its way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree. It had
The new extension to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop finally has its roof on! The last bits of the structure has been put in place
The clouds grew ominous in the late September sky. Rain threatened to fall at any moment on the shoot. The car had only been in
There are certain things that get handed down through the generations. Something sentimental that have a certain connection to a person or place. This is
Work is continuing on the 1973 MG B Roadster that is in at Bridge Classic Cars to be recommissioned. This time, our in-house restoration technicians
Work has begun at Bridge Classic Cars on stripping down and cataloguing the rear axle components for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 we have in
Hopefully, you will have all seen the news by now but if not, Bridge Classic Cars have got a fantastic 1966 Sunbeam Alpine in with
This glorious little Sunbeam is on its way into our workshop at Bridge Classic Cars very soon!
First up on tour is the amazing 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam that was cruising around Ireland on holiday with its owner. We worked on
This beautiful 1964 Morgan 4/4 has been in with us at Bridge Classic Cars for a couple of issues. Most notably is the rough running
As the 1990s saw Bond change yet again into the modern world, this time it would be portrayed by another iconic actor. Pierce Brosnan would
Some of our cars come from further afield than others. Take for instance this lovely Sunbeam Rapier. Now you might be able to tell by
The 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI is a perfect example of the sportscar built under the supervision of David Brown during his time as the
The names Cars. Bridge Classic Cars. Our very own Charlotte was at the Premiere of the latest James Bond 007 film in London this week
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions got to deliver our 2003 Vauxhall VX220 to its lucky new owners today! We delivered the car to Mr and Mrs
All classics need some attention. They need to be checked, kept happy and kept running. This 1973 MG B Roadster has come into us here
With such a bespoke and unique car as the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster currently in at Bridge Classic Cars, only a handmade
As time went on, Bond as a character would change. The suave and sophisticated character of Connery would be replaced by several actors before we
Previously, our in-house technician Lydia was busy preparing some components and pieces from the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 for paint. Well, those parts have now
Just arrived at Bridge Classic Cars is this gorgeous 1970 Dodge Charger for interior fit out. Expect to see more of this iconic second-generation Charger
This is indeed a wonderful example of 1930s excess and style. Almost industrial in its engineering but so ornate in its look. It is of
The Aston Martin DB5. Many believe it to be The Most Famous Car in the World. It’s claimed by some that over half the worlds
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on a bit of a modern classic recently. This 1998 Honda Integra Type R has previously had a list
Congratulations to the winners of our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions 1974 Triumph GT6 who recently took delivery of this wonderful example of a Magenta GT6.
The 1965 Amphicar is already quite a unique and rare piece of automotive history. But, an original convertible hood cover? Slightly rare than hen’s teeth. However, after some research, we found a company in the States who make them!
We had one shipped to us here for our 1965 Amphicar which was installed by our in-house master trimmers. As you can see, it looks absolutely brilliant!
Here at Bridge Classic Cars, we’ve built a reputation for being one of the leaders in the restoration of the Jensen 541 family. The latest of these that is just beginning its journey is this 1956 Jensen 541.
This car came to us as a semi barn-find. After pulling it into the workshop, our in-house restoration technician Scott began to separate all the associate parts that were left inside the shell. This is an important part of any ground-up restoration as it gives you a clear view of what is going to be needed and its availability.
With the body and chassis of the Jensen, Scott has been going through to assess what parts can be refurbished and what will need to have replacements made. Carefully Scott has been removing, cataloguing and storing the various fixings and components which can be fully inspected at a later date by our in-house restoration teams.
Expect to see more about the restoration of this 1956 Jensen 541 on our Blog very soon.
The bonnet on this 1984 Jaguar XJ is currently in with the Bridge Classic Cars paint and body teams to look into a rust issue on both the bonnet and the boot.
First off, the depth that the rust extends to needs to be assessed by the teams and a plan made. Currently, our expert painter Matt believes a lot of it can be cleaned up but some parts may need more attention.
Look out for more updates on the XJ on our news page very soon!
Whilst out on the original photo shoot for our 1965 Amphicar, our Marketing manager Freddie snapped this photo.
It’s a stunning VW Type 2 Camper. There’s something just so charming about these vans that are beloved by young and old that crosses all divides. This one is finished really nicely and obviously is loved by its owner.
The Bridge Classic Cars in-house trim team have worked their magic yet again. This time recovering the rear seat doors on the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster.
Kath, one of the trim experts, carefully deconstructed the original panels not only to find out how they were originally made but to try and save as much of the original piece if possible. Kath managed to even save the original hardware and hinges for the piece.
After refinishing the wooden cores of the panels, Kath could then start to get the new coverings fit just right for such a hand-made sportscar. After this, it was time to put the body-coloured piping onto the new material.
After the pieces had been perfectly readied to go into the car it was time to get the original hardware Kath had removed looking just as good. Kath carefully prepped each piece for a new coat of paint to go along with the rest of the panel in terms of the finish and quality.
Expect to see more of this incredible, one-off E Type on our News Page very soon.
The charity Lotus Elise has been out doing its promotional tour recently. This time it had been at the Royal Norwich Golf Course to raise awareness for the Norwich City Community Support Foundation and the incredibly important work they do out in the community.
This stunning example of the final run of the fabled sports car is still up for grabs on our competition site! All of the proceeds will be going straight to NCCSF to help them support young people in the community get into sport.
Just click here and buy your ticket!
That’s our 1956 Jensen 541 safely in our enclosed transporter and on its way back to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop in Pettistree.
It had been sat for quite a while awaiting its place in line for restoration. Our transport team carefully positioned the enclosed trailer up to the front of the sleeping sportscar. Inch by inch the car was tenderly pulled from the storage unit to keep it and the building around it safe.
With the car and all other parts securely stored and the area cleaned up, it was on its way to the workshop to begin teardown in preparation for its full restoration.
The new extension to the Bridge Classic Cars workshop finally has its roof on!
The last bits of the structure has been put in place for the roofers to come and install the panels which make up the expansive roof of our new workshop extension. Soon, the brickwork will start and then it can be clad.
We’ll be in the new building before you know it!
The clouds grew ominous in the late September sky. Rain threatened to fall at any moment on the shoot. The car had only been in our possession a matter of minutes before it was whisked off the back of our enclosed Transporter and off to the shoot location. There was no time to spare.
The timeframe was tight. Shoot and edit the photos and videos for the latest Bridge Classic Cars Competitions car before the release of the latest James Bond 007 film, No Time to Die. Why? Because the Sunbeam Alpine was the first bond car. It appeared in Dr No with Sean Connery behind the wheel as the worlds most famous secret agent.
This particular Alpine had been dry stored for over 20 years before its previous owner had it completely rebuilt. A folder containing photographs of the rebuild came with the car stripped all the way back to bare metal and then worked on from the ground up. This car has been lovingly used by its previous owner, who is a true classic car enthusiast, for several years whilst also ensuring it is kept in the best condition possible for an in-use classic. That also includes the engine…
Without hesitation, the 1725cc 4-cylinder fired into life. The previous owner spent countless hours and no expense was spared getting the engine to perform and run perfectly. This particular engine has less than 1000 miles on it since being completely rebuilt to better than new condition. Along with the engine, this Sunbeam Alpine is fitted with the much-needed overdrive gearbox. Making it more useable as a classic in today’s modern world for its next lucky owner.
All of this was evident as we pulled away from the hanger. It revved out beautifully towards the lowering sun on the horizon. For take after take, the Sunbeam delivered faultlessly over and over again with Charlotte at the helm. As the temperature dropped along with the light, the Sunbeam still kept going. Its near-perfect interior offering no warmth with the roof off but still the best seat in the house when it came to a late summer evening jaunt.
It buzzed up and down the track without so much as a hesitation or stumble. The brakes were faultless, as proved when a herd of deer emerged from the undergrowth during a run. Not a problem for the Alpine, it gracefully and quickly came to a dead-straight stop.
With the light waning from under the wooded horizon, it was time to head back to the hanger.
There are certain things that get handed down through the generations. Something sentimental that have a certain connection to a person or place. This is true with his fabulous 1959 MGA Twin Cam that we currently have at Bridge Classic Cars for storage.
We are looking after the car for a customer at our Bentwaters storage facility for a while. This car was originally owned by the customer’s father who at one time was the manager of the Chevron racing team. A nice connection between Bridge Classic Cars and Chevron was the recent 1972 Chevron B20 Formula 2 car we auctioned on Collecting Cars.
This beautiful pale blue Twin Cam car has been rebuilt and restored from the ground up. It also appears to have had somewhat of competition history, with several newspaper cuttings from club races. The current owner has sent over some wonderful images of the recommission that was undertaken on the car to show the extent of what has been completed on the car.
Here they are in the gallery below:
Work is continuing on the 1973 MG B Roadster that is in at Bridge Classic Cars to be recommissioned. This time, our in-house restoration technicians are looking into the cooling system. A crucial part of any classic.
The reason we needed to remove the radiator was to gain access to the water pump. This was due for replacement as Ady had noticed it begin to weep. Whilst the radiator is out, it allows our in-house team to inspect and assess the radiator itself to see if it needs any repairs or is in need of replacement.
Keep a lookout on our news page for any updates on the MG B Roadster.
Work has begun at Bridge Classic Cars on stripping down and cataloguing the rear axle components for the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 we have in with us for full restoration.
Our in-house restoration technicians carefully removed the rear axle from the car in order to have it in a safe and accessible place to begin the teardown. Mauro carefully removed each component, taking care as to not damage any original pieces of the rear assembly.
The rear end will be completely rebuilt in preparation for the rest of the components coming back from refurbishment.
Hopefully, you will have all seen the news by now but if not, Bridge Classic Cars have got a fantastic 1966 Sunbeam Alpine in with us in our workshop. Yes, the same as Sean Connery drove in the James Bond film Dr No. This is going to be a competition car which one lucky winner will be drawn.
This honest and really rather lovely 60s sports car also has an incredibly rare hardtop! so no matter the weather it can be enjoyed by its future owner. At Bridge Classic Cars, our in-house teams will assess the car soon to come up with a plan to get the Sunbeam to a stage where it can be instantly used and enjoyed.
Keep checking the blog for more updates on this fantastic car.
This glorious little Sunbeam is on its way into our workshop at Bridge Classic Cars very soon!
First up on tour is the amazing 1969 Ford Escort Twin Cam that was cruising around Ireland on holiday with its owner. We worked on this very car earlier this year and it’s amazing to see it being used and enjoyed. Safe travels!
Next on the road is the 1960 Jensen 541S ”Prototype” which was taking part in Petit Tour in Belgium. This Jensen was in with us in 2017 and 2019 for a full restoration but it’s amazing to see it out and being enjoyed by its owner.
This beautiful 1964 Morgan 4/4 has been in with us at Bridge Classic Cars for a couple of issues.
Most notably is the rough running from the 1600cc engine. After inspection, our in-house technician Ady discovered there was an issue with the manifold that was causing the exhaust to blow and therefore the engine to run poorly.
With this information, we managed to source a replacement manifold for the car and fit it. However, the replacement manifold didn’t quite line up with the threaded hole on the cylinder head. So, carefully Ady elongated the holes to allow it to bolt up while also keeping the gaskets perfectly in place to achieve the correct seal.
After this had been done and the manifold connected back up to the exhaust system. Our in-house team went through the entire system from engine to exhaust box to check everything was working exactly as it should on the Morgan.
As the 1990s saw Bond change yet again into the modern world, this time it would be portrayed by another iconic actor. Pierce Brosnan would begin his career for MI6 in the 1995 film Goldeneye.
This film’s most famous Bond Car was actually a Russian T37 tank but towards the end of the film, the audience was given a glimpse of a new age of Bond. The BMW era.
Before the production of Goldeneye, EON productions had signed a 3 film deal with the Bavarian manufacturer to supply Bond with his own modes of transport. The first being the brand new Z3.
Bond’s specific Z3 in Goldeneye was a 1.9 litre 1996 model which most famously appears on an airstrip in Cuba. The car in the film has been thoroughly gone through by Q-Branch, offering Bond ”the usual refinements” which can be best demonstrated in the lab during the walk around with Q (played by Desmond Llewelyn. It is apparently equipped with Stinger missiles behind each of the Z3’s headlights, a parachute deployed from the boot and radar displayed on an LCD screen inside the dash. There is a mention of an Ejector seat though… as well as a self-destruct system. References to earlier Bond cars from the franchise.
The Z3 in Goldeneye, which holds the title as the first non-British Bond car to ever be officially issued to him by Q Branch, was only a brief appearance. Because it was traded on the airstrip in Cuba for a plane (where it’s then seen fishtailing off into the trees with its new owner CIA Jack Wade at the helm) it also holds the title as one of only a handful of Bond cars that are not destroyed on screen. Even the DB5 doesn’t hold that accolade.
The Z3 had some serious kudos with potential owners after the launch of the film. The first year of production had sold out before the first cars had even been finished. But, some audiences felt the Z3 should have been given more of a role in the film considering the armaments bestowed on it by Q-Branch. for that they would have to wait until the release of The World is Not Enough a few years later with another BMW as Bond’s car of choice.
So, this concludes the end of our series on notable James Bond 007 Cars that we here at Bridge Classic Cars have had experience dealing with.
But there is still one more… Check in tonight to find out how you could have the chance of owning one!
Some of our cars come from further afield than others. Take for instance this lovely Sunbeam Rapier.
Now you might be able to tell by the photos that this car isn’t coming in from the UK. This car has actually called the continent of Africa home for its life. Specifically South Africa.
It will be coming into us to be assessed and have its new home here in the UK. Recently this car has done an epic 1800km road trip from Johannesburg to Pringle Bay with its owner. The car itself had been restored by Rapier expert Barney Curtis before his passing.
The owner in South Africa wrote a wonderful piece in the Summer 2019 edition of Cut & Thrust about this road trip and the most important thing we took away from it was that it never skipped a beat thanks to the work done by Barney Curtis.
Expect to see more on this Sunbeam when it arrived with us later on.
The 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkI is a perfect example of the sportscar built under the supervision of David Brown during his time as the head of Aston Martin.
This particular Aston Martin DB2/4 is in at Bridge Classic Cars for a full restoration. Recently it has been worked on by our master fabricator Clinton to make sure that all the metalwork throughout the cars body and frame is in the best shape before the next stage for the car. Now, it’s time to start dismantling and cataloguing the front and rear suspension assemblies plus the steering system. Our technician Mauro meticulously worked his way through each system carefully noting down the position of anything that has an adjustment so when it comes time to reassemble the DB2/4 it can be back in the same position it was taken off in.
You may have seen last time that some of the parts which had been prepared by our technician Lydia went into be primed in our in-house paint shop. Very soon, it will be the turn of this stunning ’50s GT sportscar to enter the booth for our masterful paint team to get it looking absolutely perfect.
Check-in very soon on the blog page for more updates on the DB2/4
The names Cars. Bridge Classic Cars.
Our very own Charlotte was at the Premiere of the latest James Bond 007 film in London this week (she won’t tell us anything about what happens)! It’s only a couple of days before it’s released to the public and we all cannot wait.
Are you going to go and watch it? Head down to your local cinema to enjoy this icon of cinema.
Bridge Classic Cars Competitions got to deliver our 2003 Vauxhall VX220 to its lucky new owners today!
We delivered the car to Mr and Mrs Spellman, who actually have another VX220 as well as their new British Racing Green example! The other one however is having a bit of work done to it after a small incident on track. But now, Ian has got a replacement to enjoy while the other is being fixed.
Thanks to their winning ticket of 4851, the Spellmans now have many years to enjoy this amazing example of an underappreciated sportscar.
All classics need some attention. They need to be checked, kept happy and kept running.
This 1973 MG B Roadster has come into us here at Bridge Classic Cars for just that. It is in to be recommissioned after laying dormant for a while.
Our technician Paul has begun work on getting this lovely, honest example of a true British sports car back on the road. To begin with, Paul stripped down the iconic twin-carburettors to make sure that the throaty 4 cylinder was getting all the air and fuel it needed.
With the carb refresh complete, it was a case of bolting them back up to the manifold to check the next part in the combustion cycle. The Spark.
To read more about that, check the News Page for updates very soon!
With such a bespoke and unique car as the 1973 Jaguar E Type Series 3 Roadster currently in at Bridge Classic Cars, only a handmade bespoke interior would suit.
Our master trim technician Kath has been working hard to get all the interior trim pieces for the E type stripped back to begin work on. Carefully she worked her way around each individual piece to preserve them for any templates that may need to be made for the car.
Some of the interior trim has metal components underneath the hides used originally. So, to make sure those pieces are in just as incredible shape as the body and chassis Kath worked on rust prevention for each piece and then finished in black.
Expect to see much more on Fern Grey very soon here on the blog.
As time went on, Bond as a character would change. The suave and sophisticated character of Connery would be replaced by several actors before we reach the 1980s with the release of For Your Eyes Only starring Roger Moore in 1981.
The 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me, would see Bond driving another British motoring icon for the first time. A Lotus Espirit. Famously this one was more adept underwater than on land. But in 1981, Bond was back behind the wheel of Norfolks most famous export thanks to the success seen with the Esprit (known as Wet Nellie) in The Spy Who Loved Me.
The start of the film has a white Lotus Esprit Turbo in the Spanish countryside. When a wayward henchman of the man Bond is tracking decides to smash the window of the Espirit. It explodes. One of Q’s little additions to the car was self-destruction set up if the vehicle were to be tampered with. Thankfully, this car was actually a rolling shell. But for the driving sequences, a very early production car was used for the on-screen scenes. In the Film, Q’s workshop has managed to rebuild the blown up Lotus for the next time Bond would need it.
For Your Eyes Only most famously features a copper painted Lotus Esprit Turbo in a stunning backdrop of the Ski Resort of Cortina in Italy. Lotus had supplied two very early Esprit Turbos for production (10858 & 10930). So early in fact that the hero car, was actually a pre-production prototype (Chassis 10858). Both cars were delivered to production but when the location was decided on, the cars needed to be repainted. Both were finished light colours that didn’t contrast well enough against the white background of the location.
So, the cars were set back to Lotus’s headquarters of Hethel to be resprayed in the Copper Fire Metallic along with the Gold stripes and decals are seen on the cars used in the film. Whilst at Hethel, a pair of custom fabricated ski-racks were made for the Esprits to give that little bit extra cool to the cars on screen.
After filming had finished, both cars found their way to private owners after a long run of promotional duties. Chassis 10930 was actually held on to by Lotus until 1998 when it was sold at Auction. While the pre-production prototype went on to live life registered as 459 JTA with a private owner.
Apart from the Lotus, what is the other early Bond car that isn’t an Aston Martin?
Previously, our in-house technician Lydia was busy preparing some components and pieces from the 1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 for paint.
Well, those parts have now had their first coats of primer sprayed after being carefully prepared by Lydia. Any form of corrosion whether it is surface or deeper was painstakingly assessed and rectified by our in-house body and paint teams. As you can see, the results are wonderful.
This however is not the final stage for these bits from the DB2/4. Keep a watch on our News Page for more updates on this project and others!
Just arrived at Bridge Classic Cars is this gorgeous 1970 Dodge Charger for interior fit out.
Expect to see more of this iconic second-generation Charger on our blog page!
This is indeed a wonderful example of 1930s excess and style. Almost industrial in its engineering but so ornate in its look. It is of course the 1930 Packard 740 Waterfield Convertible that is in at Bridge Classic Cars to have a list of jobs completed.
Thankfully, the customer supplied us with copies of the original technical manuals for the car for our technicians to work from. Scott, our in-house restoration technician, began to work on removing and adjusting the massive rear drums.
Of course with such a rare car, extreme care needed to be taken whilst removing any component from the car. As Scott gently prised the drum faces off to gain access to the shoes underneath, he carefully and methodically laid out each component that was removed from the Waterfield Convertible. Scott had noted that the drums felt a touch loose considering the size and weight of the vehicle, refering to the manual he found they did in fact need adjustment.
Once the rear brakes had been inspected, cleaned up and adjusted, Scott meticulously worked his way back to getting the drums back on this beautiful car.
At the same time as Scott was working at the rear of the Packard, John was going through his work list at the front. Carefully checking the operation of each light and noting any changes or anything untoward. The customer had made a note of the headlights not being too bright when being used. John investigated into this
The Aston Martin DB5. Many believe it to be The Most Famous Car in the World. It’s claimed by some that over half the worlds population can tell you that James Bond, drives an Aston Martin.
The sleek, elegant lines of the DB5 made it a perfect candidate when the producers of the newly launched 007 franchise went looking for the latest car to be used by Her Majesty’s most faithful servant.
The DB5 would hit theatre screens in September of 1964, with the release of the 3rd James Bond Film, Goldfinger. This is where a now faithful audience would first catch sight of the car now known as the Goldfinger DB5.
Launched in 1963, the DB5 would serve as a replacement for the previous DB4. A long-legged, elegant GT car beloved by all and a favourite of the newly hip and happening. The DB5 used a Superleggera construction method. A sculpturesque spaceframe which keen-eyed craftsmen would then cloth in mirror-like, curvaceous panels. This appealed to the newly formed ”Q-Branch”.
At Pinewood, the designers had been working out what car should James Bond, the worlds most famous spy, drive. Ideas were bandied around a Jensen CV8, Jaguar E Type etc. But, only one car truly personified the style and the times of Flemings fictional spy. It was the DB5, with that the production the approached Aston Martin. The DB5 worked on another level as in the book Goldfinger, Bond was noted as driving an Aston Martin DB MkIII.
At first, Aston Martin was understandably hesitant at allowing their newest pride and joy to become a film star like any concerned parent would be. However, they did agree to sell two cars to the production team. The first was actually a DB5 Prototype, an earlier DB4 production car that had been modified to develop the DB5.
This prototype car would become the hero of the story. From the moment it arrived at the Pinewood workshop, the DB5 was busily modified to accept the growing list of gadgets being added to the script. For interest, in the book, the only mention of a gadget and an Aston Martin was a passage describing a smokescreen. But, for a film, it needed to get bolder and bolder.
Guy Hamilton, the film’s director, had the request which would now go down in history as one of the most memorable film lines of all time. His stepson had come to him one day and said he had seen an ejector seat in a film or a TV show. This sparked something in Hamilton. He took the idea to Production Designer Ken Adams and Engineer John Stears who said it might be possible but wouldn’t actually work, so when Connery says the famous line ” Ejector Seat? You must be joking.” Unfortunately, the crew were joking. The scene in the film was shot in multiple takes using careful angles and rigs to portray the henchmen’s unfriendly exit from the DB5. To this ever-expanding and extraordinary list, Hamilton added the revolving number plate mechanism. This famously came from Hamilton who was getting dozens of parking tickets issued against his car during production. Along with those, is the bulletproof rear screen plate and the oil hoses which drop out of the rear brake lights of the DB5.
This car (the second DB5 used for production was completely standard), was converted to become the stunt vehicle for Goldfinger. The whole conversion from DB5 prototype to The Worlds Most Famous car took a mind-blowing 6 weeks from the start of work to being delivered to set.
During both Goldfinger and lately Thunderball, the DB5s would use the number plates BMT 216A). Easily identifiable as the Goldfinger DB5s and also the number plate used on the recent DB5 Continuations known as The Goldfinger DB5s which have exact copies of the modifications to the stunt cars. These cars would then be unmodified in 1968 and sold to private owners.
But in 1995, the DB5 would return to the 007 James Bond series in the film GoldenEye. The DB5 breaks cover at the start of the film by going head to head against a Ferrari F355 GTS driven by assassin Xenia Onatopp. This particular DB5 in GoldenEye runs the registration BMT 214A. A nod to the original cars used in the earlier films. 11 years later, the DB5 would make its appearance in the first of the Daniel Craig era of James Bond with Casino Royale (the first of the Bond novels by Ian Fleming). However, this car according to Bond aficionados has nothing to do with the legendary BMT 216A. Seeing as how it’s a left-hand drive car and is wearing Bahamian numberplates.
For the world to see BMT 216A we would have to wait until 2012’s Skyfall. This is the car bond uses to escape back to his family home in Scotland. It’s also famously the film that gets destroyed out on a boggy crag. Thankfully, a series of scaled miniatures were used for this and no original DB5s were harmed during production. However, in the 007 film Spectre, the shell of the DB5 can be seen in Q’s workshop. With Bond raising a smile as he walks by his beloved DB5. Then at the end of the film, he is seen powering his way through Whitehall in London to a wonderful chorus of the 4 litre Straight-Six.
That brings the cinematic lineage of BMT 216A (the Goldfinger DB5) right up to the modern-day. In the latest film, No Time to Die, Bond is seen back behind the wheel of his Silver Birch DB5. This time, however, it is armed to the teeth. Machine guns behind the headlights but most interestingly is the faint outline of an ejector seat panel over the passenger seat… a clue perhaps? This car though is actually using the numberplate A426900, possibly one of the options from the original revolving idea Guy Hamilton proposed for the car back in 1964.
Famously though, in 1997 a very certain DB5 used during the production would make world news for its life away from the silver screen. In 1997, a DB5 known as The Road Car was being stored at an aircraft hanger belonging to its then owner in Boca Rotan, Florida. One night, however, the car disappeared. Sparking furious media debate worldwide as to where the car really is. Many believe the car to have had to have been destroyed due to its famous number. This car appeared in all of the press for the early films as well as cameo’s in multiple films such as Cannonball Run.
So, that brings all of us up to speed about the first Bond car. But, was it?
Bridge Classic Cars have been working on a bit of a modern classic recently. This 1998 Honda Integra Type R has previously had a list of metal work done to it by our in-house body shop along with a full engine bay clean up and resprayed in its factory Championship White.
Now though, it is time for the back and the top of the car to receive the same treatment. The rear quarter panels needed some attention from the Bodyshop so to make sure it all looked as good if not better than the day it arrived on the showroom floor 23 years ago.
Our in-house paint expert Chris carefully prepared each panel to make sure the best results were achieved for our customer. The results are absolutely sensational.
Congratulations to the winners of our Bridge Classic Cars Competitions 1974 Triumph GT6 who recently took delivery of this wonderful example of a Magenta GT6.
The GT6 was unloaded from our covered transporter in front of the house much to the excitement of John Waud, whose winning ticket of 153 made him its new owner.
We hope that he has many happy miles enjoying this iconic sportscar.
You could also win yourself an incredible classic too! Head over to our Competitions page to find out more.
Bridge Classic Cars are award winning Classic Car Restoration and Maintenance specialists. Your pride and joy is in safe hands with our expert Classic Car Technicians. Take a look at our awards here.
